Hydrangea, Bigleaf Hydrangea, French Hydrangea, Mophead Hydrangea 'Mixed Hybrids, Noids'

This species varies a lot in hardiness. Also, the species and most cultivars bloom only on old wood. This means that here in Z6a, where w...Read Moreithout winter protection there is much winter dieback, blooming is diminished or (in some years) absent. Most florist cultivars will not survive our winters.

You can maximize bloom by pruning out deadwood only. Be patient and wait until the buds swell in late spring to tell what's dead and what's still alive.

I much prefer 'Endless Summer' or one of the other new cultivars that bloom on both old and new wood. They bloom much more, and more reliably.

Flower color depends on cultivar and on soil pH---bluer on more acidic soils, pinker where pH is higher. If you use a chemical to modify soil acidity, use iron sulfate and sulfur, not aluminum sulfate---the latter can easily accumulate to levels that are toxic to your plants. Better still, send a soil sample to your state USDA agricultural extension service, who will perform an inexpensive soil test and tell you just how to modify your soil.

This is one of the more drought-sensitive plants I grow. Even here in eastern MA Z6a, it does best with protection from hot afternoon sun, and usually needs regular irrigation in the heat.

I love this species as a florist plant in a pot, but it is way over-used in the Mid-Atlantic and South landscapes. The mutated flower hea...Read Moreds of all sterile flowers are not useful for pollinators. Because it branches all over the ground, it is hard to prune, and if they aren't pruned strongly sometime, they get so messy and full of dead twigs and stems. Except for some new cultivars, one can only prune them just when the flowers turn brownish in late summer; otherwise there will be no blooming the next season.

Great flower for this area, zone 8B. But, hydrangeas in this area bloom great one year and not as good the next. Expect
for the ...Read Moreold fashion white big leave adn oak leaves. They seem to do good every year. Yes, they do wilt in the sun, even in the shade sometime in the July and August sun. But, they recover will by late afternoon.

Such a beautiful flower. Actually native to Japan and Korea despite its common name "French hydrangea". It used to be planted in castle...Read More courtyards in feudal Japan.

Growing it here can be a risk. I am in a hot, humid climate and I have to have it growing on the eastern side of my house in partial shade that way it can be protected from the hot afternoon sun. It will wilt during the day if not protected...which doesn't kill the plant but doesn't make it attractive either.